The new "victim zone"?

A beggar in a Walmart parking lot? Should've asked him if he was new at panhandling.

I'm sure if I was needy that's where I would look for a handout. Everyone knows that's where the wealthy people shop.:rolleyes:
 
Golddollar said:
Did the study give reasons for that? It sounds counter-intuitive.
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I don't recall if it did . I assumed that the criminals feared the cane could be used as a defensive weapon.
I have had classes in " canefu" and can easily believe that . My older brother has serious balance issues and uses a cane. I am certain his Marine Corp training would kick in if he needed to use his cane to defend himself.
 
Your original question was should you avoid the handy cap parking spot, heck no. I don't agree with giving them anything either.

You did well, your cane is a good weapon. My suggestion is to find a local martial arts instructor who can teach you how to best use that cane, the bad guy won't have a chance.
 
Had an elderly friend, in his late 70s, be followed home from a casino and attacked for his cash. Culprits were a young man in his 20s and his girlfriend who distracted my friend so the other could blindside him. Gave him two black eyes, lucky nothing worse. They followed him nearly 40 miles from the casino to his house, pulled into the drive and she started asking directions to a nearby area. He circled to side and when my friend was giving directions, he swung on him and beat him while she went through his clothes and vehicle.

Nothing ever came of it. The casino is in a different county, and since my friend is in a rural area it fell to the sheriff's department. You would think that with a casino's video security, they'd have ID'd the culprits quickly, since they came from the casino. Anyways, I'm just glad he survived.

Yes, people will go after anyone the see as vulnerable, especially if they smell easy money.
 
AMEN!

hsguy said:
I think a pressure washer aimed properly might also be a deterrent especially if cleaning solution is being used at the time..
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I had thought of this method before getting to your post.

Anybody close enough to have problem from a pressure washing was too close.

Bekeart
 
It's not the cane or the handicapped parking spot. Same thing happened to me recently at a shopping center and I was with my 11 year old daughter walking to the car. A scruffy looking "child of God" about 50 feet away shouted something like hey mister, and I glanced his way and ignored him. He proceeded to use ungodly utterances to tell me what he thought of me.

The car horn is a very good way to de-escalate a situation, as it draws unwanted attention and is non-violent, and gives you a second or two to prep for the next step.
 
We've been doing a lot of shopping by delivery or curbside since it became a thing, and I don't miss walking through parking lots one bit.

Sounds like it's trending toward A Clockwork Orange out there.
 
I parked in Walmart handicap spot yesterday.
It takes me a few minutes to straighten up
after I get out of car. By the time I was ready
To walk a middle aged man ask if I could
Spare some gas money. Told him No
but he was in luck Walmart and every
Fast food place around it is hiring.
Instead of thanking me for the information
he cussed me. I reported him to door
watcher and he was nowhere to
be seen when I left.
 
Never hurts to be alert. You handled it well, and I bet that cane would adjust his attitude, if required.

Been lucky so far, and never felt threatened at the Handicapped spot or anywhere, though I rarely go out in retirement without my very large hubby, who is very protective.
Only saw him react once, in Rome about 10 years ago, when a man on the sidewalk made the mistake of groping our daughter-in-law. Problem ended very quickly.





Sent from my motorola one 5G using Tapatalk
 
Unfortunately, too many people have no awareness of their surroundings and are easy prey. As I told my students, "if you look like food, you will be eaten". The world is full of predators and they are becoming more emboldened as society devolves . . . .
images
 
The Walmart closest to us,, is rural and directly across the highway is an open, wooded area containing a homeless camp…Whenever I go there, I park by the Garden Center, in a large open area…There's a couple Cart return stalls out in the parking lot and I grab a cart and push it into the store….Having the cart to lean on is a big help and being out in the open. You have a better field of view than walking between parked vehicles and gives you more time to react.

One of the Kata's in Tai-Chi involved the use of Canes…It reminded me of Bayonet/ Pugil Stick training with the forward thrusts and side and rear butt strokes…The cane would be an excellent option for less than lethal .Always keep your Head on a swivel and watch their Hands… situational awareness and having a plan… Just like the good old days, at work. Stay safe.
 
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pmanton said:
My old fuddy duddy cane is an aluminum one made by KaBar. I can use it quicker than I can get to my pistol.
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I have one of the aluminum canes. No significant weight. The cane I usually use is an old hardwood model I got in about 1983 while recovering from knee surgery. Over an inch in diameter, bent hook grip, probably two pounds or so. Babe Ruth would probably appreciate it.

Back in the early 1970s as a young cop I was trained a bit in using a 36" riot baton. I'm not planning on swinging for the center field wall, but thrusts, parries, knees, shins, elbows, collar bones, solar plexus, and annoying protruberances in facial structures are all possibilities if I am forced to defend.
 
meaneyedcatz said:
Do they still make canes with swords in them?
Something to think about
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I don't know about your location, but here in Colorado sword canes are legally classified as dangerous and deadly weapons. I've seen a few in private collector displays, but carrying one in public here could result in criminal charges, and any use of such a weapon would clearly be in the same category as a firearm (deadly force).

My concealed handgun permit allows me to carry a handgun, not anything else that I might choose. Pocket knives are fine, up to 3.5" blade length (and automatic knives have been removed from the prohibited weapons lists). The old blackjack pocket sap I carried for years as a cop would be considered an illegal weapon for me now. As far as I know OC (pepper spray) would be okay now, but my experiences with it years ago were negative.

Some things are inherently dangerous or deadly weapons simply by design and intended use. Other things are primarily tools (common knives as an example). A walking cane is primarily a medical aid device, even if they might be capable of breaking bones or striking killing blows.

Laws on this topic will be different in every state, and many cities have their own restrictions. Best to know what is or is not acceptable wherever you might be.
 
Lobo..glad everything worked out for you.

I have a feeling things like this are going to be more prevalent. I used to carry all the time and for some reason I quit…might be time to start again.

Here is a cane I found online… I wonder about the legalities of it. I guess you could use it to ward off wild or rabid animals ;)
 

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For the several who have made disparaging remarks about Walmart. OP's experience could have happened anywhere!!!!



GROW UP.
 
Kevin J. said:
Pepper spray in your front pocket. Just say sure let me see what I have as your reaching into your pocket.
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Ya, now during summer days, in the city, I carry my wallet in the left front pocket and my 431 which holds 6 100gr peppercorns, in my right front pocket. If I toss you my wallet with my left hand, I will not be very accurate, so keep your eyes on it, not my right hand.
 
digi-shots said:
Lobo..glad everything worked out for you.

I have a feeling things like this are going to be more prevalent. I used to carry all the time and for some reason I quit…might be time to start again.

Here is a cane I found online… I wonder about the legalities of it. I guess you could use it to ward off wild or rabid animals ;)
Click to expand...

Electric cattle prod, I like it.
 
Yeah in the last few years.. somehow a lot of the country has been turned into Gotham city. "No country for old men" for real. My wife is not allowed to go down town alone- we mostly go to the base and to medical appointments.

I almost got into a hassle with a bum kid at a local java hut begging inside. "Gimme some money" "Get a job" "You are a jerk" "you are the jerk bothering people go away." Go to hades" " I will meet you there"

He turned like he was leaving turned back tried to spit on my friend and I missed us.

I jumped up tried to catch him to slow stove in- and the little buzzard was to fast- gone out the door.

Good thing I did not catch him may have had a knife and I probably would have been the one who went to jail if I punched him.

Country is nowhere what it was even ten years ago heart breaking sad..

Lobo you did good stay safe out there..
 
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Ugly Hombre said:
Yeah in the last few years.. somehow a lot of the country has been turned into Gotham city. "No country for old men" for real. My wife is not allowed to go down town alone- we mostly go to the base and to medical appointments.

I almost got into a hassle with a bum kid at a local java hut begging inside. "Gimme some money" "Get a job" "You are a jerk" "you are the jerk bothering people go away." Go to hades" " I will meet you there"

He turned like he was leaving turned back tried to spit on my friend and I missed us.

I jumped up tried to catch him to slow stove in- and the little buzzard was to fast- gone out the door.

Good thing I did not catch him may have had a knife and I probably would have been the one who went to jail if I punched him.

Country is nowhere what it was even ten years ago heart breaking sad..

Lobo you did good stay safe out there..
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Was in a Mickey D's a while back, stopping on the road for brief lunch while reading my paper (yeah, some of us still do that, occasionally). I sought out a booth toward the back for as much peace and quiet as possible. Jus' 'mindin' my own' . . .

A group of rambunctious 'young men' ( probably 14-15 yo range) came blowing in and deposited themselves in the booth behind me and the one across the aisle and proceeded to be loud and boisterous and slightly profane, Kids just being kids - not really a problem - until apparently one got bored and decided it would be fun to include me in his festivities.

The whole time their show had been going on I had ignored them, ate and read my paper. Suddenly he turns around in the seat behind me and says "Hey ! Old man!?" I ignored him and continued reading as his 'audience' snickered. Again, "Hey ! Old man!?" finally tapping me on the shoulder. I looked at him and said, "yeah?"

"You got fifty cents ?" "Yeah, I've got fifty cents" and went back to reading my paper. More snickers.

Him - "Well?!" Me - "Well, what?" Him - "you gonna give it to me?"

I said, "No" and went back to reading my paper. Now his 'audience' was laughing openly.

He asked, "WHY NOT?"

I put down the paper, turned and looked him in the eye and said, "Cause I didn't take your sorry *** to raise!" turned back and picked up my paper to guffaws from his amused 'audience'.

The look on his face must have been priceless and one of his buddies laughed and said, "C'mon, let's get out of here" and they all left.

As the filed by, one of the last ones looked at me and mouthed "sorry" as he left.

Different time, different crowd, who knows ? But I pushed my ignorance on people at times when I was that age just 'being a kid'. I'm betting the "clever one" will think twice or choose his 'victim' more carefully next time . . . .
 
Now understand...I am in Wyoming with no real restrictions on carry. I know 2 older fellows that carry a can of bear spray...even Wally World sells it here. Wally World even in Wyoming is where the weirds seem to hang out. I can tell you bear spray ain't fun. Only problem is a canister IS somewhat large. I used to sell pepper spray in my shop and I think todays products are better. It's best to get 'em in the eyes though. Some people seem to be somewhat immune from pepper spray...esp wearing glasses. I gave my wife a handgun instead
 
Situational awareness for me is my saving grace. Being ex military it comes fairly natural but it's easy to be distracted by something or especially someone. That story about the victim coming from the casino was especially creepy.

I'm pretty sure that personally I would have noticed being followed especially after winning a large amount of cash. I may have even requested a check at the time from the casino if it was significant stating that very security issue concern.
 
Well I addressed the size issue.. Doesn't matter about the content percentage. That Bear Spray make the personal ones look like toys. when they spray. They get some "coverage"
 
We have 5 Walmarts in my general area. Several are in, shall I say, not very good neighborhoods. Or, they are on a bus route leading from, shall I say, really bad neighborhoods.

The workers in the store, as well as the customers reflect the neighborhoods.

I drive a little further and the store is neat, the emplyees are courteous and helpful, and the parking lots are well cared for.

We love WM.
 
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